20030228003089A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr CH-801 · Dingville, CA · February 28, 2003

Date: February 28, 2003 · 11:30 local
Place: Dingville, CA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N235RJ
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03FA102
Reported as: Amtr CH801
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 250 total

N235RJRegistration cancelled Jun 10, 2004 · Mitchell A CH-801S/N 8-4114 · Built 2000 Airframe modelMitchell A CH-801 Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) In-flight breakup over rice field in sutter country. Aircraft debris was scattered approximately 1 mile. Large section of right wing was found at beginning of debris field. Numerous pieces followed with main fuselage and engine hitting ground 1 mile away. No post fire, fuel tanks separated prior to impact with adequate fuel remaining. The engine did not have power on impact.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP OVER RICE FIELD IN SUTTER COUNTRY. AIRCRAFT DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE. LARGE SECTION OF RIGHT WING WAS FOUND AT BEGINNING OF DEBRIS FIELD. NUMEROUS PIECES FOLLOWED WITH MAIN FUSELAGE AND ENGINE HITTING GROUND 1 MILE AWAY. NO POST FIRE, FUEL TANKS SEPARATED PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH ADEQUATE FUEL REMAINING. THE ENGINE DID NOT HAVE POWER ON IMPACT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX03FA102Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportNicholas, CAan in-flight structural failure due to the pilot exceeding the design limitations of the airplane. Drug impairment was a factor.Feb 28, 2003 · Destroyed